Portable illuminating device for manipulating the circadian clock of a subject

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable illuminating device ( 110 ) comprising at least one illuminating light source ( 112 ) emitting light of a wavelength comprised in the range of 450 to 495 nm, preferably, comprising at least one further illuminating light source ( 112 ) emitting light of a wavelength comprised in the range of 620 nm to 750 nm; a diffuser ( 113 ) scattering the light of said illuminating light source ( 112 ) at least in part in the direction of at least one eye, preferably at least one cornea and/or retina, of said subject; and a mounting mechanism ( 114 ) for fixing the portable illuminating device ( 110 ) to the body of a subject. Preferably, said diffuser ( 113 ) scatters the light of said illuminating light source ( 112 ) at least in part in the direction of at least one eye and in the direction of at least a part of the facial skin of a subject. Preferably, the portable illuminating device ( 110 ) further comprises a sensor for determining if illumination is advisable, preferably a melatonin sensor, and/or comprises an oxygen and/or pulse sensor. The present invention further relates to the portable illuminating device ( 110 ) for use in preventing and/or treating a disease or disorder caused by or associated with a distorted circadian rhythm; and to a method of improving physical and/or mental performance of a healthy subject, comprising the step of illuminating at least one cornea of said subject with light comprising light of a wavelength of 450 to 495 nm for at least 15 min, thereby improving physical and/or mental performance of a healthy subject. Preferably, the invention relates to a method of improving physical and/or mental performance of a healthy subject, comprising illuminating at least one eye and/or at least a part of the facial skin of said subject with light comprising light of a wavelength of 450 nm to 495 nm and/or illuminating said subject with light comprising light of a wavelength of 620 nm to 750 nm, thereby improving physical and/or mental performance of a healthy subject.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A portable illuminating device ( 110 ) comprising:
 i) at least one illuminating light source ( 112 ) emitting light of a wavelength comprised in the range of 450 to 495 nm;   ii) a mounting mechanism ( 114 ) for fixing the portable illuminating device ( 110 ) to the body of a subject; and   iii) a diffuser ( 113 ) scattering the light of said illuminating light source ( 112 ) at least in part in the direction of at least one eye, preferably at least one cornea and/or retina, of said subject.   
     
     
         20 . The portable illuminating device ( 110 ) of  claim 19 , wherein the portable illuminating device ( 110 ) is a headdress, preferably selected from the group consisting of: a hat, a cap, preferably a baseball cap or a peaked cap, and a headband. 
     
     
         21 . The portable illuminating device ( 110 ) of  claim 19 , wherein the diffuser ( 113 ) comprises one of a brim, preferably a curved brim, of a peaked cap, preferably of a baseball cap, of a headband, or a sunblind of a headwear. 
     
     
         22 . The portable illuminating device ( 110 ) of  claim 19 , further comprising a blind ( 115 ) preventing the light from said illuminating light source from directly illuminating an eye of said subject. 
     
     
         23 . The portable illuminating device ( 110 ) of  claim 19 , wherein the illuminating light source ( 112 ) comprises a plurality of photon-generating devices having the same or different spectral emission properties. 
     
     
         24 . The portable illuminating device ( 110 ) of  claim 19 , wherein the illuminating light source ( 112 ) further emits light of a wavelength comprised in the range 495-600 nm and/or 600-800 nm, or wherein the portable illuminating device ( 110 ) further comprises a photon-generating device emitting light of a wavelength comprised in the range 495-600 nm and/or a photon-generating device emitting light of a wavelength comprised in the range 600-800 nm. 
     
     
         25 . The portable illuminating device ( 110 ) of  claim 19 , wherein the illuminance of light of a wavelength of 450 to 495 nm on at least one cornea of said subject is at least 100 lux (lm/m2). 
     
     
         26 . The portable illuminating device ( 110 ) of  claim 19 , further comprising a sensor ( 116 ;  123 ) for determining if illumination of at least one eye of a subject by said device is advisable. 
     
     
         27 . The portable illuminating device ( 110 ) of  claim 19 , wherein the sensor ( 116 ;  123 ) comprises a position determining device for determining the position, preferably the longitudinal position. 
     
     
         28 . The portable illuminating device ( 110 ) of  claim 19 , wherein the sensor ( 116 ;  123 ) further comprises a melatonin sensor ( 116 ). 
     
     
         29 . The portable illuminating device ( 110 ) of  claim 19 , wherein the diffuser ( 113 ) scatters light emitted by the illuminating light source at least in part in the direction of at least one eye and in the direction of at least a part of the facial skin of a subject. 
     
     
         30 . The portable illuminating device ( 110 ) of  claim 19 , wherein the diffuser ( 113 ) scatters light emitted by the illuminating light source such that at least 20% of the facial skin of said subject are illuminated. 
     
     
         31 . The portable illuminating device ( 110 ) of  claim 29 , wherein said 20% of the facial skin are illuminated with an average illuminance of at least 100 lux (lm/m2). 
     
     
         32 . The portable illuminating device ( 110 ) of  claim 19 , wherein said diffuser ( 113 ) scatters light emitted by the illuminating light source such that at most 20% of the light scattered in the direction of at least one eye and in the direction of at least a part of the facial skin of the subject illuminates a retina or the retinas of said subject. 
     
     
         33 . A method of improving physical and/or mental performance of a healthy subject, comprising illuminating at least one eye and/or at least a part of the facial skin of said subject with light comprising light of a wavelength of 450 nm to 495 nm and/or illuminating said subject with light comprising light of a wavelength of 620 nm to 750 nm, thereby improving physical and/or mental performance of a healthy subject. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the illumination is performed using a portable device comprising a diffuser. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the diffuser comprised in said portable device scatters light emitted by the illuminating light source such that at least 20% of the facial skin of said subject are illuminated. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said at least 20% of the facial skin are illuminated with an average illuminance of at least 100 lux (lm/m2). 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , comprising the step of illuminating at least one retina of said subject with light comprising light of a wavelength of 450 to 495 nm for at least 15 min. 
     
     
         38 . A method for preventing and/or treating a disease or disorder caused by or associated with a distorted circadian rhythm in a subject, comprising illuminating at least one eye and/or at least a part of the facial skin of said subject with light comprising light of a wavelength of 450 to 495 nm and/or with light comprising light of a wavelength of 620 nm to 750 nm, thereby preventing and/or treating a disease or disorder caused by or associated with a distorted circadian rhythm.